Badge of Military Merit

Badge of Military Merit
TypeBadge
Awarded forMilitary merit
DescriptionFigure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding.
CountryUnited States
Presented byGeneral George Washington
EligibilityNon-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army
StatusObsolete
EstablishedAugust 7, 1782 (1782-08-07)
First awardedMay 3, 1783 (1783-05-03)
Last awardedJune 10, 1783 (1783-06-10)

The Badge of Military Merit was an award for non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army. It is largely considered America's first military decoration, and the second oldest in the world (after the Cross of St. George).[a] Non commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army were eligible. Now known as the Purple Heart Medal, it was redesigned and re-commissioned in 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur in honor of George Washington’s bicentennial.[2]

  1. ^ Phoenix, J. (August 7, 2007). "The 225th Anniversary of the Purple Heart". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  2. ^ Wescott, Allen Pennell (Autumn 1941). "For Military Merit". Military Affairs. 5 (3): 211–214. doi:10.2307/2937597. ISSN 0026-3931. JSTOR 2937597.


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